Gripper-pad and tympan-clamping device of printing machines



Oct. 5 1926.

w. G. KENYON GR IPPER PAD AND TYMPAN CLAMPING DEVICE OF PRINTINGMACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed J an. l3

m m u m Oct. 5, 1926. 1,601,757

- W. G. KENYON GRIPPER PAD AND TYM'PAN CLAMPING DEVICE OF PRINTINGMACHINES Filed Jan. 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Patented Get. 5, 1926.

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WALTER eonnon KENYON, or ALTRIN HAM, nnetaivngessrenon To LINOTYPE ANDMACHINERY LIMITED, or Lennon, ENGLAND, A BRITISH COMBANY.

GRIPPER-IPAD Ann 'rYMrAn-cLAMrrne nnvrcn rnnvrnm iviecnnvns.

Application filed. January is, 1925, Serial No.

This invention relates to gripper pad and tympan-clarnping devices ofprinting ma chine cylinders and particularly to the means whereby thosedevices can be adjusted to suit different thicknesses of the material toco-operating with the grippers, or to fulfill that same function as wellas serving to clamp to a cylinder, one end of the rubber or otherblanket or tympan with which it may be clothed; or, again, to fulfillthe function of a tympan clamp only. However, to avoid circumlocution,the device is hereinafter described mainly with reference to its use asa gripper pad. I

The term tympan is herein used todenote the cylinder covering whether itbe a rubber blanket, an impression blanket or a tympan. v

The invention consists in so constructing and arranging the gripper padsor stops and their common gripper pad shaft, that by turning the latterangularly, the outer or gripping ends of the said pads can be movednearer to and farther from the axis of the them for grippingmatecylinder to adapt thicknesses to be printed rial of the varyingupon.

In one constructional form of the invention, the aforesaid adjustment ofthe gripper pads, is effected by angular movement of these pads as'awhole about an axis which is itself movable arcually, so that there isno necessity for the pads to comprise relatively movable members such ashave heretofore been provided in existing mechanism of the samecharacter. j The invention will now bedeseribed by reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a cylinder (inthe'example here illustrated, an impression cylinder) fitted with theimproved arrangement of gripper devices; a

Figure 2 ure 1; U I I Figure 3 is an end elevation partly in section ofa portion of the cylinder, showing a gripper pad in an intermediateposition is a view of a portion of Fig- 2,059 and in Great BritainJanuary 19, 1924.

of adjustment, said pad in the arrangement here illustrated, fulfillingits normal function of co-operation with the respective gripper, andthat of a tympan clamp;

Figures 4; and 5 are views similar to Fig- I -ure 3, with parts omitted,and representing the gripper pad in relatively different posi tionssuitable for the requirements of different1 thicknesses of material tobe gripped; anc

Figure 3, showinga gripper pad arranged to fulfill only 1ts normalfunction of cooperation with the respective gripper. 7

Figures 2 to 6 are drawn all to a scale larger than that to which Figure1 'is drawn.

In each of the constructional forms shown in the drawings,the gripperpads or stops 1, of which there are any desired number, ar frictionallymounted on a gripper pad shaft 2 on which are pinned or otherwisesecured, eccentrics or eccentric journals 3, 3, rotatably supported inbearings 4 formed within the cylinder 5.

The boss 6 of each of the gripper pads 1,

is split and provided with two lugs 7 and a clamping screw 8,-a liner 9being interposed between the lugs 7, which is of such thickness thatwhen the screw 8 is screwed tightly home, the-said shaft can turnstiiily within the boss 6', or vice versa. 7

At that end of the gripper pad shaft 2 on which is secured the eccentric8 said shaft projects outwardly beyond the corre-',

sponding end of the cylinder 5, and is there screw-threaded as at 10 forreceiving a locknut 11, and terminates in a square end 12 to which maybe applied a key or handle wherewith to turn this shaft.

The eccentric 3 is formed with a collar 8 contacting with the inner faceof the adjacent bearing f and has on its periphery, a scalewhichco-operates with a pointer 13 secured to that bearing, forindicating angular positions of the gripper pad shaft 2 relatively 'tothecylinder 5 for given thicknesses of material to be gripped.

The lock-nut ll'is pierced by tommy holes 1a or otherwise formed so thatit canbe readily turned on the screw 10 for releasing and tightening thegripper pad shaft 2, the last-named function resulting from the drawingof the collar 3* hard against the adjacent bearing''e.

Figure 6 is a view similar to a part'of In the particular arrangementnow under review, the gripper pads 1 are in position for grippingmaterial of minimum and max imum thickness when the axis 16 of thegripper pad shaft 2 is located outside and inside the axis 17 of theeccentrics 3, 3, along a radius of the cylinder 5, as shown respectivelyin Figures 4 and 5, while for an intermediate thickness of material, theaxis 16, regarded in the sense of direction of rotation of the cylinder5, would be in advance of the axis 17 in some such position as isindicated in Figure 3. lVhen, therefore, it is necessary to adjust thegripper pads 1 to adapt them for "ripping material of dif .ferentthicknesses, this is effected in the following manner. The gripper padshaft 2 is unlocked-by turning the lock-nut 11, counterclockwise asviewed in Figures 3, 4 and 5, and is thereafter turned clockwise untilthe operative or outer faces of the gripper pads 1, as will be indicatedby registration of the respective scale marking with the pointer 13, areat the proper distance from the axis of the cylinder 5, compatible withthe thickness of material to be provided for, the said pads, during thisturning of shaft 2, being prevented from rotating with it, through theircontact with the tympan 15. After this, the gripper pad shaft 2 is againlocked by tightening the lock nut 11 thereby re taining in position thesaid shaftwith the gripper pads 1 thereon, pressing firmly against thetympan 15 to secure its leading end on the cylinder edge 19, as shown inFigures 2 to 5 of the drawings.

lVhen, with the last described arrangement, conditioned as shown inFigure 4, it isdesired to remove from the cylinder 5 the tympan thenupon it and substitute another tympan therefor, this is effected asfollows. The gripper pa-d shaft 2 after being unlocked as previouslydescribed, is turned counter-clockwise as viewed in Figures 3, 4 and 5,so as to bring the gripper pads 1 into a position within the. cylindergap 18 such as that in which they are represented in broken lines inFigure 3. The tympan 15 is then detached from the cylinder 5 and therequired substitute one properly positioned on said cylinder, afterwhich the gripper pad shaft 2 is turned clockwise to first bring thegripper pads into clamping contact with the tympan 15 and thereafter .tobring the outer or operative ends of the gripper pads into position forproper cooperation with the grippers 20. After this, the gripper padshaft '2 is again locked by tightening the lock nut 11, as previouslydescribed.

In the constructional form of the invention shown in Figure 6, thetympan 15 is secured to the cylinder edge 19 by a keeper plate 21attached to that edge by screws 22, so that the gripper pads l are notcalled upon to exercise any clamping function on said tympan, the saidkeeper plate 21 itself serving to arrest the angular motion of thegripper pads during the turning in clockwise direction (as viewed inFigure 6) of the gripper pad shaft 2. So far, therefore, as concerns therelationship of the keeper plate 21 to the gripper pads 1, the formeracts merely as a stop for the latter, and that being the case, it willbe obvious that if an independent stop be provided in appropriateposition, the gripper pads may fulfill their normal function withoutcontacting with either the keeper plate 21 or the tympan 15.

When it is desired to adjust the gripper pads 1 of the last describedarrangement to enable material of different thicknesses to be engaged letween them and the grippers 20, this is effected in the followingmanner. The gripper pad shaft 2 is unlocked as previously described, andthereafter the said shaft 2 is turned clockwise until the particularscale marking on collar 8" appropriate to the thickness of material tobe provided for, registers with the pointer 13, the shaft 2 beingsubsequently again locked in position by turning the nut 14 as beforeexplained.

The improved adjustable single piece gripper pads according 'to thepresent invention possess the very great ad-vanta-geof rigidity when inuse, there being no parts liable to displacement under the repeatedaction of the grippers when closing on the sheets.

Having described my invention, I declare that what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a printing machinecylinder, of a single-piece device carried thereby whose outer end isadapted to be adjusted nearer to and further from the axis of saidcylinder, and'a gripper pad shaft eccentrically journalled in thecylinder about the axis of which the single piece deviceis angularlymovable, and which is itself angularly adjustable in the cylinder aboutan axis different from and parallel with that of the shaft.

2. The combination with a printing machine cylinder, of a single-piecedevice and shaft. according to claim 1, of a gripper adapted tocooperate with the outer end of the said device.

3. The combination with a printing machine cylinder, and a tympanenwrapping the cylinder, of a single-piece device and shaft according toclaim 1, said device being adapted to clamp the tympan between itselfand a cylinder edge parallel with the axis of the cylinder.

4. The combination with a printing ma chine cylinder, of a single-piecedevice and shaft according to claim 1, of a stop on the cylinder adaptedto limit the angular move ment of the said device during the angularmovement in one direction of the shaft.

5. The combination with a printing machine cylinder, of a single-piecedevice carried thereby whose outer end is adapted to be adjusted nearerto and further from the axis of said cylinder, a shaft about the axis ofwhich the single-piece device is angularly movable, journals on theshaft, and bearings in the cylinder within which the ournals areangularly adjustable about an axis different from and parallel with thatof the shaft. 7

6. The combination with a printing machine cylinder of a plurality ofsingle-piece devices carried thereby whose outer ends are adapted to beadjusted inwards and outwards of the cylinder, a shaft about the axis ofwhich the single-piece devices are angularly movable, hearings in thecylinder within which the shaft is angularly adjustable about an axisdifferent from and parallel with its own, and a locking device adaptedto lock the shaft in different positions of adjustment.

7. The combination with aprinting machine cylinder, of a plurality ofsingle-piece devices carried thereby whose outer ends are adapted to beadjusted inwards and out-.

wards of the cylinder, a shaft about the a of which the single-piecedevices are angularly movable, eccentric journals on the shaft, bearingsin the cylinder within which the shaft is angularly adjustable about anaxis different from and parallel with its own, and a locking deviceadapted to lock the shaft in different positions of adjustment.

8. The combination with a printing machine cylinder, of a plurality ofsingle-piece devices carried thereby whose outer ends are adapted to beadjusted inwards and outwards of the cylinder, a shaft about the axis ofwhich the single-piece devices are angularly movable, bearings in thecylinder within which he shaft is angularly adjustable about an axisdifferent from 'and parallel with its own, a locking device adapted tolock the shaft in different positions of adjustment, grippers adapted toco-operate with the outer ends of the single-piece devices for grippingmaterial between said grippers and devices, and mutually co-operativemeans on the shaft and cylinder adapted to indicate positions of theshaft appropriate to different thicknesses of material to be gripped.

9. The combination with a printing machine cylinder, having a gap in itsperiphery, of a tympan enwrapping the cylinder and extending into thegap over one edge thereof, a plurality of single-piece devices carriedby the cylinder, whose outer ends are adapted to be adjusted inwards andoutwards of the cylinder and to clamp the tympan againstthe gap edge, ashaft about the axis of which the single-piece devices are angularlymovable, bearings in the cylinder within which the shaft is angularlyadjustable about an axis different from and parallel with its own, and alocking device adapted to lock the shaft in different positions ofadjustment.

10. The combination with a printing machine cylinder having a gap in itsperiphery, of a tympan enwrapping the cylinder and extending into thegap over one edge thereof, a plurality of single-piece devices car riedby the cylinder, whose outer ends are adapted to be adjusted inwards andoutwards of the cylinder and to clamp the tym pan against the gap edge,a shaft about the axis of which the single-piece devices are angularlymovable, hearings in the cylinder within which the shaft is angularlyadjustable, about an axisdifferent from and parallel with its own, alocking device adapted to lock the shaft in different positions of adjustment, grippers adapted to co-operate with the outer ends of thesingle-piece devices for gripping material between said grippers anddevices, and mutually co-operating means on the shaft and cylinderadapted to indicate dilfcrentangular positions of the shaft appropriateto different thicknesses of material to be engaged by the single-piecedevices.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature hereto.

WALTER GORDON KENYON.

